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I just saw that Bernard Pruvost, who played the Commandant in three Dumont films, passed away in June

Racing driver turned Oscar-winning costume and production designer and painter Theodor Pištěk—even if you've merely scratched the surface of Czech cinema you'll probably have encountered his work, and even if you haven't you've most likely seen Amadeus.

A few months after Scott Spiegel, another member of the “Michigan Mafia” Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell cohort has passed away in writer/director Josh Becker: https://www.joblo.com/josh-becker/

JamesF wrote: Tue Dec 09, 2025 6:33 pm A few months after Scott Spiegel, another member of the “Michigan Mafia” Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell cohort has passed away in writer/director Josh Becker: https://www.joblo.com/josh-becker/

I’ve always wanted to see Running Time

JamesF wrote: Tue Dec 09, 2025 6:33 pm A few months after Scott Spiegel, another member of the “Michigan Mafia” Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell cohort has passed away in writer/director Josh Becker: https://www.joblo.com/josh-becker/

I've been thinking that Arrow or Vinegar Syndrome should put Lunatics: A Love Story on Blu-ray... would have been better to do it before this news

BoltzmannBrain wrote: Tue Dec 09, 2025 8:28 pm I've been thinking that Arrow or Vinegar Syndrome should put Lunatics: A Love Story on Blu-ray... would have been better to do it before this news

Alas it’s owned lock stock and barrel by Sony who have never even shown interest in remastering the film, so odds are slim of it ever happening.

JamesF wrote: Tue Dec 09, 2025 8:41 pm

BoltzmannBrain wrote: Tue Dec 09, 2025 8:28 pm I've been thinking that Arrow or Vinegar Syndrome should put Lunatics: A Love Story on Blu-ray... would have been better to do it before this news

Alas it’s owned lock stock and barrel by Sony who have never even shown interest in remastering the film, so odds are slim of it ever happening.

Seems to be the same situation as with Adam Rifkin's The Dark Backward and it's a real shame. Wish Sony would sell the rights of their films they're not interested in to the directors.

Christine Choy, of Who Killed Vincent Chin? and From Spikes to Spindles

Sophie Kinsella, author of the Shopaholic novels, dies at 55

British cinematographer Joe Dunton, whose camera business supplied the industry for many years, aged 80.

Science fiction writer John Varley, aged 78. His short story "Air Raid" (1977, under the pseudonym Herb Boehm) was expanded into the novel Millennium (1983), which was filmed in 1989, for which he wrote the screenplay. Other short stories were adapted for the TV series American Playhouse and Welcome to Paradox.

Scottish actor and comedian Stanley Baxter, aged 99.

Novelist Joanna Trollope, aged 82. Several of her novels were adapted for British TV: The Rector's Wife (1994), The Choir (1995), A Village Affair (1995).

GaryC wrote: Fri Dec 12, 2025 11:35 am Scottish actor and comedian Stanley Baxter, aged 99.

Coincidentally over the last week I have been watching a lot of Christmas TV continuity to get into the spirit of the season, and that in turn led me to his Christmas specials and his take on the disaster film genre!

Actor Peter Greene, a character actor who’s likely familiar to everyone.

hearthesilence wrote: Sat Dec 13, 2025 5:38 am Actor Peter Greene, a character actor who’s likely familiar to everyone.

So sad, Peter was a frequent customer at the video rental where I used to work, and such a sweet guy in person. I don't remember many anecdotes outside of his vocal love for The Ninth Configuration.

Literary critic John Carey, at the age of 91.

I haven't actually read much by Carey, mainly some of his occasional reviews. But I have his fat William Golding biography that I've been meaning to get around to. I'm curious to see what he makes of that baffling novel, Darkness Visible.

klee13 wrote: Sat Dec 13, 2025 2:42 pm

hearthesilence wrote: Sat Dec 13, 2025 5:38 am Actor Peter Greene, a character actor who’s likely familiar to everyone.

So sad, Peter was a frequent customer at the video rental where I used to work, and such a sweet guy in person. I don't remember many anecdotes outside of his vocal love for The Ninth Configuration.

Clean, Shaven is one of the great breakthrough roles with that film being intensely focused on the main character throughout. It would never have worked as well without Greene's committed performance there. Lodge Kerrigan has an amusing anecdote in the commentary for that film about how he wanted an unknown face to anchor the film since they would not bring any baggage to a story in which the guilt or innocence of the main character is purposefully meant to be left ambiguous but Clean, Shaven took so long to finish up and get distributed that before its official theatrical release he could only watch on as Greene had already been cast in, had filmed and was already appearing in other roles by that time!

Oh, he's the guy who flicks the cigarette in Stephen Baldwin's eye in The Usual Suspects!

colinr0380 wrote: Fri Dec 12, 2025 5:43 pm

GaryC wrote: Fri Dec 12, 2025 11:35 am Scottish actor and comedian Stanley Baxter, aged 99.

Coincidentally over the last week I have been watching a lot of Christmas TV continuity to get into the spirit of the season, and that in turn led me to his Christmas specials and his take on the disaster film genre!

I mostly knew him for a couple of early 60s movies with James Robertson Justice/Leslie Phillips/Julie Christie - Crooks Anonymous and The Fast Lady.

hearthesilence wrote: Sat Dec 13, 2025 5:38 am Actor Peter Greene, a character actor who’s likely familiar to everyone.

It seems 2025 is certainly a year of character actors passing on, between Katt, Greene (both particularly synonymous with 90s independent cinema), and Kier (contemplating if we'll see another one pass before this year ends)

beamish14 wrote: Sun Dec 14, 2025 6:55 pm Studio Gainax

I'm surprised it took that long considering that they've been pretty dormant for years.

Rob Reiner discussion moved here

Australian actress Rachael Carpani, aged 45.